James Anderson bowls during the match against the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra four years ago

Ground Name Manuka Oval
Address Manuka Circle, Griffith ACT 2603
End names Pool End and Mall End
Telephone +61 2 6228 0304
Ground Capacity 13,550
Email info@manukaoval.com.au
Website Manuka Oval, Canberra

Follow England's tour of Australia on www.ecb.co.uk/ashes

Manuka Oval is a 13,550 capacity stadium located in Griffith adjacent to Manuka. The Oval is one of the oldest in the Territory, with a long history and has been progressively developed and expanded.

It is now the home venue for the AFL games played in Canberra and also for major cricket matches including the annual Prime Minister's XI game.

Manuka Oval was once an open field that was used for Aussie Rules, rugby and cricket. In 1926 and 1927 approaches were made to the Federal Capital Commission to have the area enclosed.

However, it was not until March 1929 that major work formally commenced on Manuka Oval. The open field was graded, grass sown, a turf pitch laid, and wire mesh fence erected around the perimeter. The first cricket pitch was played on in April 1930.

In 1962, the Bradman Pavilion was constructed and named in honour of the great cricketer who first played at Manuka Oval against Mailers ‘Bohemians’.

In 1979, the ACT Administration decided to develop Manuka Oval primarily for cricket. The pitches were re-laid with couch grass.

In the early 1980s the original scoreboard from the Melbourne Cricket Ground was installed at Manuka Oval. It was named the Jack Fingleton Scoreboard after the late Australian opening batsman who made his career as a political journalist in the corridors of Parliament House, just kilometres away.

In 1897 and 1992 the spectator areas at the northern and eastern side of the oval were reconstructed. The two grandstands were named after two Prime Ministers who brought international cricket teams to Canberra on 16 occasions, and were named the Robert Menzies Stand and the Bob Hawke Stand.

England will play at the Manuka Oval on 10 January when they meet the Prime Minister's XI in a one-day match